Barnstorming U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials received a snowy and wet welcome and - surprise - a round of applause during their stop in Bismarck on Tuesday morning.

On their semi-annual, six-city tour to outline the 2007 annual operating plan for the Missouri River system, corps officials talked about municipal water intakes and elevations on lakes Sakakawea and Oahe, lauded the moisture falling across much of the state and fielded the public's comments and questions.

During the public comment session, Gov. John Hoeven praised the corps for working with state officials to put water back in Lake Audubon after it was lowered to balance water levels on both sides of a stretch of U.S. 83 that divides Lakes Sakakawea and Audubon.

"Let's give them a round of applause," Hoeven asked the crowd of about 50 that attended the meeting at the Doublewood Inn.

Putting back that 4 feet of water will have a huge impact on people using or living near Lake Audubon and no impact downstream, he added.

Hoeven called it a cooperative effort, "and we've got to do more of that," he said.

He also praised the cooperative effort with plywood planking to modify Garrison Dam to help hold cold water in Lake Sakakawea during releases.

Looking ahead, Hoeven stressed "maximum drought conservation," asked for assurance for boat access to the state's most popular fishery, reminded corps officials about the municipal water intakes and asked for stable to rising water levels on Lake Sakakawea during the rainbow smelt spawn.

With a drought in its seventh year, the corps is keeping an eye on municipal water intakes at Four Bears, Twin Buttes, White Shield, Parshall, Garrison, Pick City and Fort Yates, said Jody Farhat, the corps' team leader, power production.

"Releases in the river are sufficient for Bismarck-Mandan intakes," she added.

Farhat predicted that 21 to 25 recreational areas on Lake Sakakawea will have boat access to the lake, and eight ramps on the Missouri River south of Bismarck-Mandan will be suitable to put a boat into what once was North Dakota's portion of Lake Oahe.

Fort Peck and Lake Oahe are favored for the spring forage fish spawn, "but we will try to keep water in all three rising," Farhat said. Falling water levels strand smelt eggs and they dry up. Smelt are a key forage for walleyes and other game fish.

Terry Fleck, of the Friends of Lake Sakakawea, also pushed the corps to conserve water upstream over downstream navigation.

"Help us to provide good access," he said. "Lake Sakakawea has weathered difficult times. Help us get the word out."

The corps will resume its emergent sandbar habitat work below Bismarck-Mandan, but the work will not disrupt either boating activities or ramp access, the corps told Vern Davis, Morton County parks director.

Although the length of the downstream barge navigation season won't be decided until July 1, the chief of the Missouri River basin water management said the new manual favors a shorter season. The revision has been a boon for upstream states and their recreation.

"Things have been changed for the better," said Larry Cieslik. "Under the old manual, (Lake Sakakawea) would be 3 or 4 feet lower than it is now."

Lake Sakakawea was at 1,808.5 feet above sea level Tuesday, down 2½ feet from a year ago.

The corps' basic forecast calls for Lake Sakakawea to sit at 1,809.8 feet msl around the Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the boating season. The corps' forecast calls for the lake to rise slightly through the peak summer boating season.

Kelly Sorge, who operates Indian Hills Resort on the lake's north side, said their existing ramp will be extended another 3 feet to 1,804 msl.

And she was more optimistic Tuesday than she was a month ago, she added.

"It's seems more hopeful with the moisture that's here and in the mountains," she said before the meeting started.

(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@;bismarcktribune.com.)